NOTE*** I was pretty sure you knew this, but I wanted to make sure:
The word for nice I am using is not that to which you were referring. But my example still applies, at least to one of your questions, I believe.

あなたはどうして何時でも懇篤じゃないんですか？ Why are you never nice?!

いつも懇篤なのは大変なんだね。 'Cause being nice all the time is hard.

Keep in mind, my Japanese is wretched filth - which, if it were a horse, you would shoot...

本当に、懇篤じゃないことがないと思いますね。

Last edited by CviCvraeVtMoriar on Wed 08.03.2005 9:23 am, edited 1 time in total.

Why wouldn't one just say "優しくする" for "I'll be nice". It should be clear from the context whether the speaker is referring to the future or not. If a person isn't nice and everyone knows it and he has been chided for it, and if he then should say "優しくする" or "優しくします" or "優しくしている" or "優しくしています", you should know that he is not referring to the present. Though, I imagine what Schattenjedi suggested is either correct or very close to being correct (優しくするのになる). Although "優しくするのになる" might be interpreted "Although nice, he is of use/becomes/changes"

as

私の日本語上手じゃないのに、 私は日本語の質問に答えるよね。

But, as I said, context usually makes things clear.

By the way, I was quite tired when I wrote what I wrote above (the thing before what Schattenjedi wrote). That fact coupled with my unadroitness with Japanese, and you have a recipe for something grossly inaccurate and shameful. I have only been studying Japanese for about 2 1/2 months, however.... There! I think I've salvaged some dignity.

Last edited by CviCvraeVtMoriar on Wed 08.03.2005 9:54 am, edited 1 time in total.

thanks for your input . Sometimes I get confused between く・になる and く・にする. Most of the time I understand, but sometimes you use 〜なる in Japanese and it doesn't translate directly to "become ~" in English. *sigh* I guess I should know by now that I can't translate things directly...

Since you asked me I'll take a go at your questions, but here's my disclaimer of the absolute correctness of my answers.

First of all, 私 is unnecessary in all of the sentences. Secondly, I think you can compare the difference between your first sentence and the last two to the English equivalents. It's somewhat softer to say I will try to do something than if you say I will do something, period. The last two sentences are both right.

"I intendet on being like an adult, but I acted like a spoiled child."? Go with the first one. Maybe the verb at the end should be in past form because of the だった. (Note that here too might be a good place for te miru form [otona rasiku SHITEMIRU tumori datta noni...]

日本語は(私に）ちょっくらしか話せないよ。

日本語なら（Or が）少ししか話せないよ。Is probably most natural.

For the first, watashi is not needed, and sounds very gaijin-ppoi, as I said earlier. Also, same for nihongo, which is the subject. 日本語が上手じゃないのに、質問を答えてみる。It is obvious that your trying to answere a question about/in Japanese.

That is what I have to say. I'm sure you'll disregard it, though, heh...

Last edited by Gaijinian on Thu 08.04.2005 4:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.

"I intendet on being like an adult, but I acted like a spoiled child."? Go with the first one. Maybe the verb at the end should be in past form because of the だった. (Note that here too might be a good place for te miru form [otona rasiku SHITEMIRU tumori datta noni...]

I imagine that the reason for using -te miru would be to express intent, or to give the clause a conative (not a misspelling of connotation) nuance, since there is an idea of unfulfillment later. Because otona-rashiku-suru-tsumori-datta already expresses intent, or, losely, attempt, one probably does not need to put -te-miru there.

For the first, watashi is not needed, and sounds very gaijin-ppoi, as I said earlier. Also, same for nihongo, which is the subject. 日本語が上手じゃないのに、質問を答えてみる。It is obvious that your trying to answere a question about/in Japanese.

Okay. I thought to omit the second 日本語; but it seemed to me that the double usage had a desired nuance of meaning. Perhaps it had a meaning but wasn't that which I wanted; perhaps it was "I am a freakin' 外人 everyone. Look at me!"

BTY:I promise you, it is 質問に答える not 質問を答える:

You can look it up in an online dictionary. It is a set expression:

質問に答える [しつもんにこたえる] - (exp) to answer a question.

That is what I have to say. I'm sure you'll disregard it, though, heh..

I don't disregard things you say. I only defer unconditional and unreserved adoption of your ideas until such a time as I am sure that they are correct. I appreciate your input.

....
I sure have a way of making threads about me and my questions.

Last edited by CviCvraeVtMoriar on Thu 08.04.2005 7:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.